Alternative to

http://www.alternativeto.net
On this site you have a couple of options, if you have something specific you are looking for – type in the mainstream commercial design program ie. Dreamweaver and then it will give you a list of alternatives (both paid and free).

To narrow it down to just Free and Open source use the drop “Filter by License” menu. You can also filter by platform – Mac, PC or Linux.

With “Alternative to” you also have the option to browse through software by choosing your platform from the top menu and then choosing the type of software you are looking for.

Osalt

http://www.osalt.com

Here you can simply search for the commercial graphics software (eg. Photoshop) that you are trying to find an open source alternative to. When you have found it select it and underneath you will find a list of alternatives along with which platform they are available for Mac, Windows or Linux.

Have fun, but don’t forget the humble pencil!

To celebrate the launch of a new model of electric car called the Twizy, Renault are running a competition entitled “Design a Twizy”. The competition is targeted at students in further and higher education and gives them the chance to design their very own Twizy. The winning design will see the entrant having a year’s worth of tuition fees paid for. The second prize is a weekend for two in Paris, with the third prize winner taking home £250 in French Connection vouchers.

Find out more at http://www.renault-ze.com/en-gb/z.e.-news/twizy-lab/design-your-twizy-61800.html

Wes McDowell got in touch with me to let me know about his great new graphic design podcast called the Deeply Graphic Design Cast. Wes kindly agreed to answer a few questions about himself and what we can all be expecting from the podcast.

Tara: What is your name and your company name?
Wes: I’m Wes McDowell and my company is called The Deep End.

Tara: Where are you based?
Wes: We are now based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Tara: Please can you tell me a bit about your background as a designer and what you do now?
Wes: I’ve had pretty varied experience in the design world since I started back in 2001. I started as a freelancer, mostly doing logos and really really bad websites for local businesses. I shudder to look back at some of that early work. My first “real job” was as part of an in-house design team for a software company where I worked on the user interface as well as packaging for some of the software programs we put out. Then I moved to a different in-house team doing a lot of packaging and printed goods for retail. After that, I moved to Seattle where I freelanced and ultimately started my company The Deep End. My time in Seattle was mostly spent working on web based projects, and I learned a LOT about where the web is now and where its going. I’d say that 80% of what I do right now is web based versus print.

Tara: You have just set up a Podcast about Graphic Design please could you tell me a bit about it and how it came about?
Wes: I have been listening to podcasts for the past few years. I love the idea of walking or driving to work and learning something while I do it. I had a handful of design related podcasts I would look forward to, and the ones I really liked just kinda stopped coming out. That made me think that I should pick up the slack. I called up my old friend and former co-worker Brandon Voss, and asked him if he would be interested in helping me out with it, and he agreed. I was hooked up with Mikelle Morrison through a recruiter that I had worked with and I couldn’t be happier with our team. We have such different experience and viewpoints that it makes for a really interesting show.

Tara: What sort of topics do you intend covering in the podcast?
Wes: We want to do it all! It may take a while, but we plan on sticking around as long as people keep listening. We want to cover the business aspects, such as proposals, contracts, and how to attract bigger clients, as well as the creative side. Things like upcoming design trends, or where to go to find creative inspiration. We also want to cover topics that appeal to not only the freelance designer, but also to those who aim at getting a job at an agency.

Tara: Is the podcast aimed a newbies or the more experienced designer?
Wes: I think on the surface it seems like its more a newbie show, but I think that even more experienced designers will get a lot out of the show. Newbies will listen to get advice on how to do certain things, and pros will listen to get some different points of view on how they already do things. I know that just by having these conversations with my co-hosts that I learn something each time.

Tara: Why did you decide to create a podcast targeted at designers rather than potential clients?
Wes: I don’t think that clients necessarily have any interest in what we would be talking about. They certainly wouldn’t become longtime listeners, if design isn’t what interests them. Generally a client becomes interested in web design and the basic process while the process is going on, but once the site is built, they move on to the next phase of their business. Also, this is just a natural extension of my blog, which was always aimed at other designers. I just love graphic design, and I want to talk about it with other people who love it like I do. We want to build a community of listeners, and we invite them to email us questions that we will answer on-air, as well as tweet us topics they would like us to cover.

Tara: Where can people go to find out more about you and subscribe to the Podcast?
You can subscribe, listen and find out more about us at: http://www.thedeependdesign.com/graphic-design-podcast

When you are working on a logo design project:

1. First you will have taken a design brief

Read Why is a Design Brief so Important

2. Then done some research and started brainstorming

You can read a bit about doing some basic research in Logo Design Tutorial to Design a Charity Logo
See an example of brainstorming in one of the the previous Logo Design Tutorials

3. Sometimes a moodboard will help you find the right feel for a logo

You may find the odd project where you really struggle for ideas or to work out the right sort of “feel” for the logo. This is where moodboards can come in.

If you haven’t heard of moodboards before they are traditionally big boards (pieces of mountboard or card) which are filled with images, bits of type, perhaps colours and anything which you feel is in the direction of the type of design you are trying to achieve.

When I produce moodboards I generally get together any leaflets I have lying around, buy magazines which I feel fit with the type of market or niche I am designing for and rip out bits and pieces that I like and then paste them on to a big board. I might also include images, logos and type that I find online and print out. There is something about the act of getting away from the computer and really looking at other images that really helps to get you mind going again. Once the moodboard/s are complete you can then use them alongside your brainstorms to stimulate logo ideas. Perhaps you might really like the way a piece of typography works or a colour combination on some of the bits you have torn out.

If you are pushed for time (and I use this method too) you can always create digital moodboards or image collections. The simplest way is to simply collect together images you find on the web download them to a folder on your machine and then pull them all in to a program like iphoto so you can view them all at once (a bit like a moodboard). If you prefer you could alternatively drop the images into layout design software, or if you are using an iPhone or ipad use an app like the aptly named Moodboard.

Still stuck?

Try out some of these other creative exercises

See Also

Logo Design Tutorial 1
Logo Design Tutorial 2

So how can Twitter help you?

Now the first thing most Freelancers are probably thinking is to get more clients. While this is a biggy I think there are many more, but let’s start there anyway.

Can Twitter help you get more clients?

Follow people you want to work with/for
I think the answer is yes, but instead of thinking of Twitter as a big promotional tool perhaps it should be considered more of a way of introducing yourself in a more subtle way. Twitter allows you to follow anyone, so you could start following companies that you would like to work for. Then you can start joining in their twitter conversations, answering questions they pose, retweeting their tweets etc etc (NOT SELLING). If you maintain regular Twitter contact with them, with any luck they will check out who you are, follow you back and who knows what will happen from there. As well as the standard Twitter search also check out Twellow.

I have got work through Twitter
Personally I have got work through Twitter, one through someone I regularly tweeted with and actually hadn’t even considered they may give me freelance work. I have also indirectly got freelance work through Twitter by finding and following someone, and then asking if they would be interviewed for my other blog on Skype. After that we met in person through another Twitter friend and since then she has given me some freelance work.

Setting up twitter searches for your freelance niche
Twitter also allows you to set up searches (I use Tweetdeck for this), so you can keep an eye out if anyone is looking for the type of freelance work you offer. For example a little while ago a friend of mine was looking for a freelance copywriter, I said I would put a Tweet out for him through both my twitter accounts. Within half an hour I had people recommending people and some suggesting themselves. Some of these people weren’t even following me, so they must have either had searches set up for the term “copywriter” or alternatively my tweet was retweeted by someone they were following. To cut a long story short, my friend ended up with about 10 copywriters to choose from and ended up using one of them.

Getting advice

If you are a freelancer working alone it’s great to know that at the end of a Tweet their may be someone who can answer a question for you or offer advice.Perhaps you are having computer or software problems or just aren’t quite sure how to do things then put a Tweet out.

Need recommendations for products or Services

If you are looking for something such as a product or service what better way to find one than asking you Twitter followers. of course as with anything you have to do your own due diligence.

Making Friends

If you work in a big office there is never a shortage of conversation, but that is not always the case for freelancers especially if you work from home. Want to share a story, something you are working on or just pass the time of day you can do this with Twitter.

Finding Other freelancers to collaborate with

Who is to know what can happen with the people you meet on Twitter. Find someone you have a lot in common with and you can always take the conversation to email, Skype or even meeting up in person.

What are you thoughts on using Twitter as a Freelancer?

Please feel free to comment below or drop me a Tweet on Twitter

For tips on freelancing straight to your inbox click here

Other posts worth reading on the web

How to Really Use Twitter to Find More Freelance Work
http://freelanceswitch.com/freelancing-essentials/5-ways-not-to-use-twitter/
8 Easy Ways to Network on Twitter

With the current financial situation, freelancers could either find themselves in demand as they are cheaper than larger companies or that their work shrinks as their clients continue to feel the squeeze. There may also be more freelancers around as people made redundant from full time work seek interim freelance jobs.

So how do you Market your freelance services?

I would love to find out (if you are up for sharing )-

• What has been successful for you?
• Have you tried an unusual way to market your freelance design services?
• Is Twitter your marketing friend?
• Does Facebook feed you new clients?
• Does blogging bring you new business

What difficulties have you found?

Leave a comment or why not drop me an email and share your story and I will feature you on this blog along of course with a link back to your website and show some of your work off too.

Advice from other Freelancers

A few years ago I ran a popular series called Freelancers Focus where freelance designers shared their experiences and advice on freelancing. It was a real insight into how different freelance designers ran their businesses and marketed their freelance services. You may recognise a few names from the range of freelancers that took part, including designer bloggers:

• Jacob Cass
• Von R. Glitschka
• Rob Cubbon
• Amanda Vlahakis

Of course since then there has been an increase in the number of online channels where you can market your freelance services and network with both peers and potential clients including Twitter, Linked In and the new kid on the block Google Plus.

Want to get notified of Freelance Tips straight to your inbox? <a href=”http://www.graphicdesignblog.co.uk/freelance-tips/”>Sign up here</a>

Ps. What do you think, should I start up the freelancers focus series again – any volunteers?

3 sets of 100 MOO business cards, for 3 lucky Graphic Design Blog UK readers

Graphic Design Blog is happy to have business card printers MOO.com provide us with 3 sets of 100 MOO business cards, for 3 lucky readers. If you’ve not heard of MOO, they are business card print specialists, and also print Postcards, MiniCards, labels, Greeting cards and more!

MOO’s patented printing technology ‘printfinity’ allows you to place a different image on each card in a pack!

Who Are MOO

MOO was born out of a love of print design. They make creating unique and beautiful business cards, PostCards and MiniCards so easy!

Either select from a range of designer templates to personalise or upload your own artwork to create truly unique products.

Prize details

3 x 100 MOO Business cards designed by you, for you!

How You Enter

For a chance to win one of the 3 sets of business cards – all you have to do is answer this question -

If you could hand your business card to one person in the world, who would it be and why?

Yes, we are looking for fun, unique and original answers – make us smile and win some free cards, easy! Leave your answers in the comments below.

This competition is now closed the winners are: Nathan Dillaha, Andrew Molloy and Joshua. Thanks to everybody who took part

For more info check out http://cole007.net/blog/86/freelance-rates-survey-2011 and find out if you are charging what you should be.

Want to get notified of Freelance Tips straight to your inbox? Sign up here

As I have mentioned previously on this blog I would love to license some of my character designs, and while I keep on trying have not quite managed it yet. I put a tweet out asking for advice on licensing character designs out and via my other twitter handle @ideasuploaded I got a very helpful response from @FWD_LB (forward licensing). Abdel Boazzati from Forward Licensing told me to email him with my questions and he would be happy to give me some advice. I asked him if I could share his response on my blog to help others and he agreed.

I sent Abdel some of my character designs and asked him the best way to present them:

Defining the Characters and Brand

1. Demographics: define for each character target ages, gender (eg. Boys 4-8yrs old), have a 1sheet of each character

2. Lifestyle: define activities of the characters in terms of activities, interest and opinions (can see that you have done that with your main characters)

3. Define each character with a human personality to make identification and or aspiration easier.

4. Define the overall brand through some of the main brand differentiators: sincerity, excitement, competence and sophistication.

Once you have done the above it will be easier to define which categories and licenses you want to get into.

Categories for Licensing Characters

There are roughly 6 main categories available for licensing:

• Toys
• Softlines (eg Apparel)
• Hardlines (eg personal care)
• Retail
• Publishing
• FMCG (fast moving consumer goods)/Promotional deals.

The main drivers for a licensed program are toys and softlines (typically 60% of revenues of licensing is done in these 2 categories) so it will be easier to approach companies in these categories once you want to start marketing your brand.

In terms of presenting your character designs, you can chose to go down 2 routes:

Either you:

1. Put together what is called a styleguide

Which means you put a document with high res images together which has the following: different designs of character, background, packaging, fonts to be used etc. This means you will be able to keep a closer control on how the brand is treated.
All the big licensors work like this except see below.

or

2. Just put some basic characters together

Just put some basic characters together and leave the licensee to be creative with your brand, of course keeping to the brand dynamics and staying faithful to its core qualities. The biggest licensed brand works like this: Hello Kitty. You will get more creativity you can use for your other licensees but you need to keep a closer look and give more detailed briefs to your licensees.

Create Mock-ups of your Character Designs on Products

In all the cases, if you are going to present to a licensee the best thing to do is do a mock up, eg if you are presenting to an underwear licensee make some mock ups on how the brand can be visualised on the garments.

Animation shorts are not necessary, eg there is no TV series of Hello Kitty but it can help to get more deeper in what the brands wants to transmit.

FWD Licensing and Branding’s Mission is: first and foremost to nurture your brand and understand its strengths in order to unleash its full potential. We do this by extending or licensing your brand, while keeping its core values intact – introducing it into new categories, new lines and new targets to ultimately conquer new retail space. We have the capacity and experience to create a vast array of new opportunities for business that would otherwise remain untapped. EXTEND your brand ACCELERATE your growth

I received an email from Inkydeals about an offer they have on for all their previous deals in a bundle, this included vector graphics, textures, fonts and a WordPress theme. You might want to check it out.

$1384 Worth of Design Goodies for only $49 on Inkydeals.com!

“Inkydeals.com is officially kicking off the upcoming holiday season with a huge Bundle of Design Goodies! Starting this Cyber Monday they are taking the concept of “bundle” to a higher level of awesomeness! So be prepared for a whole week of high-end Design Resources at the fabulous price of only $49!

Save tons of time and money with Inky’s Bundle packed with design goodies such as WordPress themes, web resources, vector resources, Photoshop actions, textures, brushes sets, t-shirt designs, fonts and much more! All the resources included in the bundle are worth $1384! And you can get them for only $49 – you save big time!

So don’t waste this chance to upgrade your library with an impressive collection of top notch design goodies at an unbeatable price! Visit Inkydeals.com today and give yourself a well deserved early present to help you in your design work!”

Check the deal out at http://www.inkydeals.com/ available from 28.11.2011 to 04.12.2011

Disclosure: I was also given a free copy of the bundle